Fountain-pen-retaining clip



Feb, 24, 1925. A. FLEMING FouN rAIN PEN RETAINING CLIP Filed May 19. 1923 magi.

lNV E NTOR flmbroge Hem/n57.

ATTORN EY Patented Feb. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES FLEMING, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FOUNTAIN -PENRETAININ G CLIP.

Application filed May 19, 1923. Serial N 0. 640,180.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, AMBRosE FLEMING, a

citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Washington and District of Columbia, have invented a new and Improved Fountain en-Retaining Clip, of which the following is a specification.

The invention resides in the provision of a fountain pen retaining clip of a nature whereby the retaining element maybe projected to the operative position and retracted to an inoperative position within the peripheral confines of the removable pen cap.

It is the present practice to provide fountain pens with various types of retaining clip devices designed to engage a pocket in the apparel ofthe user of the pen to hold the pen against accidental displacement therefrom. These various types of clip devices are either removably. mounted upon the removable cap of the fountain pen or rigidly secured thereto, and in all cases pro-- ject at all times from the said cap member in such manner as to oftimes prove a great inconvenience, by reason of their position, during the writing operation of the pen.

Therefore it is the object of my invention to provide a fountain pen retaining clip device of the character stated wherein is embodied means for projecting the retaining element of such clip device out into the operative position, when the pen is closed up to be placed in the pocket, and for retracting the said retaining element into and within the confines of the removable cap member when the said pen is in the operative or writing condition after the removable cap has been placed upon the head end thereof.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention also resides in those novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described, then be specifically pointed out in appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an enlarged detail elevation of the pen carrying end of a fountain pen body with the removable cap mounted thereupon, the latter being illustrated partly in longitudinal section.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail longitudinal section of the head end of a fountain pen body with the removable cap member mounted thereupon.

Figure 3 is a detail cross section taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4: is a detail cross section taken on the line 44 on Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a central longitudinal section and part elevation of a removable fountain pen cap upon which is mounted a slightly modified form of my invention, the pen carrying end of a fountain pen body being also shown in dotted lines.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of a further slight modification of my improved clip device.

In the drawing, in which like numerals indicate like parts in all of the figures, 1 designates the body portion of any conventional type of fountain pen body. While in the drawing I have illustrated thattype of fountain pen wherein means is provided for screwing the removable cap member thereof upon the pen carrying end of the pen body, I desire it understood, and it will be readily apparent, that my invention is just as readily adaptable upon any of the many other various types of fountain pens now in use.

Cooperative with the said fountain pen body 1 is the usual cap member 2, which is provided with the usual internally threaded portion for engaging the threaded portion 3 of the pen carrying end 4 of the pen body 1. The body 1 also includes the usual head end 5 and the converging finger grip portion 6.

In the practical application of my invention upon the conventional type of pen structure above described, I provide the removable cap member 2 with a longitudinal slotway 7 which terminates at one end with an angled cu-t portion 8, the purpose of which and the lip formed thereby will later appear.

At the opposite end of the slotway 7 provision is made in any desired and practical manner for accommodating a cross pivot pin 9.

lVithin the slotway 7 and pivoted upon the cross pin 9 a clip device is mounted in a manner whereby the free end may be swung outwardly and inwardly in the manner and for the purposes soon to be described. This clip device includes a retaining finger 10 and an actuating finger 11, the actuating finger being bent slightly outward with relation to the retaining finger 10 and 'provided with a further outwardly turned end 12 and the said retaining finger 10 is provided with a slightly outwardly turned end portion 13 adapted to lie in the out out portion 8 of the slotway 7 when the said finger portion is at its retracted position. It is to be understood that the pivotal connection 9 of the retaining member with the cap member 2 is a frictional pivot, that is, the pivotal connection is such that the clip device will remain in such position as it is moved to until it is moved from that last position by another agency.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide means whereby the retaining finger 10 will be projected outwardly through the slotway 7 and into position for engaging the pocket of the person carrying the pen to retain the same from accidental loss out of said pocket, when. the pen is in the closed up condition, and for retracting the retaining finger 10 into the slotway 7 and within the peripheral confines of the said cap member, when the pen is in the open or writing condition, so that the user thereof will not be troubled in any manner by proiection of the said retaining finger so as to engage or interfere with the hand while writing.

To accomplish these purposes, I provide the head end 5 of the fountain p'en'body 1 with a metal am ring 141. I preferably construct this cam ring of metal for wean ing quality, and possibly appearance, and when so constructed it is to be understood that the same may be mounted upon the end before the pen has been finally vulcanized, thus making it possible to mount this-smaller dimension, ring over the larger dimension of the pen head shown. Cooperative with this ring 1% is a. cam. head 15, formed upon the head end 5 of the pen body and the said cam. head 15 cooperates Witllt'h said ring 14- in providing an annular cam grooveway 16. It will be readily understood that this cam grooveway may be formed within the end of the-pen head bymolding' of the p'enbody material without the application of a metal ring, if desired.

By reference to Figure 2, it will be observedth'at when the. cap mei'nber' 2 is mounted upon the head end of the pen body the retaining clip device will be retracted within the periphe al confines of the cap body with. the end 13 of the retaining finger 10 lying in the angled cut out portion 8 and with the outwardly turned end 12 of the actnating finger 11in engagei'nent with and retracted by the cam grooveway 16 formed in the pen head 15. This'figure represents the ope-rating, open or writing position of the pen.

Assuming the writing operation-to be consummated and that it is desired to put the pen into the pocket in a manner to be retained thereby, it will be readily understood,'by reference to Figure 2, that as the cap is withdrawn from the head end of the penbody 1, the body head 15 will engage the outwardly curved end 12 0f the actuating finger 11 to force the same outwardly to carry therewith the retaining finger 10. By reason of the pivotal connection 9 hereinbefore described, it will be readily understood that when the actuating finger 11 is forced outwardly by the Cam head 15, after the cap member Q has been withdrawn completely from the head end 5 of the pen body 1 and, of course, beyond the control of the cam head 15, the said retaining clip member will ren'lain in an outwardly forced position and, when applied to andover the pen end t of the body 1, the outwardly bent end 12 of the actuating finger will be in position for passing over the flared finger engaging por-- tion of the fore part of the finger engaging portion G and will be engaged by the gradually enlarging converging surfaces of the said finger engaging portion 6 to receive therefrom the final outward forcing impulse, see Figure 1. By reference to this figure,it will be seen that the outwardly turned end 12 of the actuating finger 11 engages the lip formed bythe cut out portion 8, and the finger engaging portion 6, as shown, and is held by the lip and the finger engaging portion to a fixed position, as illustrated in the figure, with the outwardly turned end 13 of the retaining finger '10 in proper position for engaging a pocket of the apparel of the person carrying the pen to function as is usual with all conventional types of clip devices.

It'should be'readily understood that the finger portions 10 and 11 of the clip device are resilient in characterin such degree as is found most practical in practice and that the retaining finger 10 may be shaped in a manner and provided with such gripping portions as may be found practical for aid ing in the pocket clipping function thereof.

It will also be readily understood that by reason of the relation of the retaining finger 10 and its cooperation with the slotway '4' that such cooperation will prove an aid in the retaining function since the pocket will be slightly crimped by the finger 10 into the slotway 7.

By reference to Figures 1 and 2 it will be readily understood that when the fingers 1H and 11 are at the positionshown in Figure 1 and the cap member is removed from that position and placed upon the opposite end of the pen illustrated in Figure 2, as the cap 2 isbeing inserted upon this head end fi'o'f the pen the outwardly bent end 12 of the finger 11 will engage the inner cam face of the cam groove 16 formed by the ring 1 1 to be forced inwardly thereby so that: the clip device will be positively'and automatically moved from the positioitillustrated in' Figure 1'to that illustrated in Figure 2.

In Figure 5 is illustrated a modification lit) menses of my retaining clip device and in the said modification the actuating finger 11 is in the nature of a bow spring humped at 17 to form a camming portion and adapted to en gage, at all times at 18, the inside of the cap member 2. In Figure 5, the retracted or normal position of the clip device is illus trated in full lines, it being understood that the action of the spring end 18 of the actuating finger 11 acts at all times to tend to retract the retaining finger 10. In this figure, the pen carrying end of the fountain pen body is illustrated in dotted lines, and it will be readily observed that in the normal retracted position of the clip device the humped cam portion 17 of the actuating finger 11 projects into the path of movement of the forehead of the finger gripping portion 6 of the pen so that when the cap is inserted over this portion of the pen, the same Will engage the cam portion 17 of the actuating finger l1 and force the same outwardly against the action of the spring bearing end 18 and in the manner illustrated in dotted lines on that figure.

lin this modification last described, it will he observed that the clip device is normally retracted under spring action and is forced outwardly into pocket-engaging position by action of applying the cam member 2 over the pen carrying end of the body 1, as described. 7

in Figure 6, is illustrated a further slight modification of my clip device and this modification applies more particularly to that form of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4t of the drawing, and in this modified form the clip device is composed of a single length of flat spring material bent to form the outwardly projecting ends 12 and 13 and the fingers 10 and ill and is further bent as at 19 so that the faces of a portion of the fingers 10 and 11 will cooperatively engage. By reason of providing a coengaging portion of the fingers 10 and 11, it will be readily observed that they will have the effect of assisting the pocket gripping action of the retaining finger 10 so that when the same is forced down into the pocket of the wearer of the pen, the pocket will be forced between the engaging faces of the fingers 10 and 11 to be gripped thereby.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is thought the complete construction, operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.

What I claim is:

l. A device of the type stated wherein is embodied a retaining element, means for pivotally mounting said element, means for rocking said element on its pivot to project the retaining element into operative position and for removing the same from such position when desired.

2. A fountain pen retaining clip comprising a retaining element, means for pivotally mounting said element and automatically actuated means whereby said retaining element may be moved on its pivot as and when desired for the purposes specified.

3. The combination with the removable cap of a fountain pen, of a retaining clip device. movably mounted thereupon, said clip device comprising a retaining element, and means automatically actuated by the application of said cap upon the respective ends of the fountain pen with which it cooperates for effecting the desired projection or retraction of said retaining element.

t. The combination with the removable cap of a fountain pen, of a retaining clip device movably mounted thereupon, said clip device comprising a retaining element and means, automatically actuated by application of the said removable cap upon the respective ends of the fountain pen with which it cooperates, whereby said retaining element will he moved to be projected from said cap when the fountain pen is closed up, and whereby said retaining element willbe moved to be retracted into said cap when the fountain pen is opened for use.

5. The combination with a removable and longitudinally slotted fountain pen cap, of a retaining clip device mounted upon said cap and movable through the slot thereof, said clip device comprising a retaining finger and an actuating finger, a cam head at one end of the pen body, a cam ring mounted upon said body cooperative with said head, said cam ring being adapted to engage said actuating finger to retract the retaining finger, and said cam head being adapted to engage said actuating finger to project the retaining finger.

6. The combination with a removable and longitudinally slotted fountain pen cap, of a retaining clip device mounted upon said cap and movable through the slot thereof, said clip device comprising a retaining finger and an actuating finger, the said fingers being in cooperative face engagement through a portion of their length, a cam head at one end of the pen body, a cam ring mounted upon said body cooperative with said head, said cam ring being adapted to engage said actuating finger to retract the retaining finger, and said cam head being adapted to engage said actuating finger to project the retainin fin er.

aifnnosn FLEMING. 

